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What a day of tennis Thursday in Cincinnati!

Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal got us off to a dramatic start, both were on the brink of being bounced out, but like true warriors, found a way to win. I thought Andy was dead on his feet. Ernests Gulbis certainly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in that one! I am sure the Latvian did not sleep well over that one.

I am sure it was a restless night for Julian Benneateau as well, holding a match point against Rafa. It sure would be good when your an aging dad to be able to tell your kids you beat both Roger Federer (in Bercy last year) and Nadal in your career. I guess there’s still time and Benneteau is playing the best ball of his life, reflected in his career-best ranking this week, but chances like that don’t come around everyday!

The night matches were pretty solid too. Andy Roddick really upped his level against Robin Soderling versus his first two matches this week. His serve was outstanding, but silly arguments with the umpire and snide comments to the linesman tarnished an otherwise good performance. It looks ridiculous when a player argues a point when he’s completely wrong. Nikolay Davydenko and David Ferrer were good value. Ferrer got a code for being coached, then when he was broken at 5-5 in the decider, he annihilated his “bat” and code a point penalty which meant Davy served for the match 15-0 to the good. Just what the doctor ordered when you coming back from a long lay off!! The two “little guys” fascinate me with how hard they hit the ball and how well they compete. Its a joy to watch.

Hopefully we can see more of the same Friday!

By Ritesh Gupta

Sometimes how hard an underdog may try, the favourite just knows how to find a way out.

The fourth-round clash between the five-times Wimbledon champion Venus Williams and Australian Jarmila Groth aptly showed how the ones will illustrious track record just need a fraction of uncertainty from their opponents to really get the desired result.

Groth’s fourth-round 6-4, 7-6 (5) loss at Wimbledon would definitely hurt her a lot.

She dealt quite a few crushing blows in the form of her blistering groundstrokes, something which Williams isn’t used to.

Groth had her chances but she failed to grab them, a story which so often only ends in such a fashion just because the underdog fails to replicate the superlative performance at the critical juncture.

Groth didn’t face even a single break point in the entire first set until the 10^th game. Serving at 4-5 to stay in the set, Groth lost her way.

She overcome such disappointment soon and managed to break Venus early in the second set. Groth produced some stunning winners. She not only matched Venus from the baseline but she also successfully forced the pace.

The Australian led 5-4 and 6-5 but was unsuccessful on both the occasions in serving out the set.

As proved time and again, after being pushed to the brink, the players of Venus’ stature just do enough to claw their way back. At 5-4, Venus came up with a service return, which looked like a statement in itself. Thereafter, the two were engaged in short rallies, the kind of ones in which Groth was having an upper hand. But this time Venus showed great defensive skills and it was Groth who committed errors in the end.

It looked as if Groth saw it slipping from her grasp. She was unlucky too. At 5-5, the 23-year old stuck what looked like a winner. Venus chose to challenge the decision. The ball met the baseline but missed the sideline by a margin, not more than the width of a hair! The crowd also felt for Groth as she survived two game points, both shaped by aces from Venus, in the same game. More drama was in store as Groth did break Venus’ serve but the set eventually went into the tie-breaker.

Williams led 4-0, only to see her lead drift away. Groth made it 4-4 and 5-5 but came up with a double fault to handover Williams her first match point. The 30-year old American wrapped up the match as Groth missed a half-court forehand sitter.

After being so close, it all came to few defining moments. And Venus scripted all of them to nudge ahead.

It is important to note that despite being challenged and severely tested during the one-hour 37-minute gruelling encounter against Groth, Williams still hasn’t lost a set so far at the All England Club this year. The rest of the field definitely needs to be wary of Williams, her form and her love for this trophy.

Williams next plays Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova for a place in the last four.